the attack on the u.s. consulate in libya that killed four americans including the united states ambassador. plus, the latest foreign fast food craze. first, it was a mashed potato and gravy dispenser. now ice cream cone pizza at pizza hut. tell you where can you get yours while supplies last a bit later in the show. first, let's get to the news. live at 5:30 a.m., we begin with breaking news that football fans are desperate for especially after monday night football that cost the green bay packers a precious victory. about 5 1/2 hours ago the nfl and referees union announced they reached a tentative agreement that will end the lockout and bring regular officiating crews back to the fields starting tonight when the ravens take on the browns in baltimore. the deal included a significant salary raise for the officials and a compromise on the much debated pension and retirement benefits. the deal expected to be officially ratified by the union

saturday night in dallas. the referees planning to work a full slate of games on sunday. we'll get a live report with dave ahead in sports. he'll help us through this to explain how it came to pass. in the race for president, both candidates will be in virginia today. it's one of 30 states where early voting is already underway. it's a state president obama won in 2008 by more than 6% and where a polling average from real clear politics shows the president up by 4 1/2 points. this follows a busy day on the trail yesterday. both candidates held dueling rallies as they crisscrossed ohio. there mitt romney tried to brush back suggestions his campaign was faltering in the state of ohio after polls showed him trailing the president by ten points. >> i'm very pleased with some polls, less so with other polls. but frankly at this early stage, polls go up and down. i don't expect to get 100% of the vote. i hope to get 50 plus and make

sure i become the next president. >> the republican candidates cited two national polls from gallup that he says have the numbers even. but the current nationwide gallup daily tracking poll has president obama lead 50g% to 44%. again that, is a national poll. not terribly significant. romney spent most of the day in ohio trying to repair the damage from the hidden video comments about the 47%. despite his attacks against president obama's health care law, romney highlight the his own massachusetts health care reform as proof that he does care about all people. >> throughout this campaign as well, we've talked about my record in massachusetts. don't forget, i got everybody in my state insured. 100% of the kids in our state have health insurance. i don't think there is anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record. >> touting his own health care plan there in massachusetts to drive home the point campaign says it's new ads showing mr. romney talking straight to camera about the middle class will now replace all ads running

in nine swing states. just hours after that ad was released, the democratic national committee countered with its own version. >> too many americans are struggling to find work in today's economy. >> i like being able to fire people. >> too many of those working are living paycheck to paycheck. >> i'll tell you what, $10,000? >> president obama and i both care about poor and middle class families. >> i'm not concerned about the very poor. >> the difference is my policies will make things better for them. >> my job is not to worry about those 47%. they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. >> i'm mitt romney and a prove this message. >> that again an ad from the d in. c mocking mr. romney's own ad w the president speaking to a crowded kent state university, the democrats strategy is clear, keep that number 47 at the top of the conversation. >> i don't believe we are going to get very far.

if we have leaders who write off half the nation as a bunch of victims. who don't take responsibility for their own lives. let me tell you, i have spent a lot of time in ohio. and i don't meet a lot of victims. i see a lot of hard-working ohioans. >> while describing the plan, the president did stumble on one important word. >> first thing is i want to see us export more jobs -- export more products -- excuse me. i was channeling my opponent there for a second. >> in the closely watched u.s. senate race in massachusetts, scott brown issued a warning to his staff after video turned up of some members doing indian war chants and tomahawk chops at a campaign rally. among those involved, brown's deputy chief of staff.

the head of the cherokee called on senator brown to apologize describing the staffers as down right racist. senator brown challenged his opponent elizabeth warren's claim she is of native-american heritage. she used the minority status for professional eastern personal gain. last night brown's campaign released a statement offering regrets and sent out an apology. senator brown has spoken to his entire staff, including the individuals involved in this unacceptable behavior -- and issued them one and only warning that this type of conduct will not be tolerated. he regrets that members of his staff did not live up to the high standards that the people of massachusetts expect and deserve. secretary of state hillary clinton is suggesting that this month's attack on the u.s. consulate in lib why may have had ties to an al qaeda affiliate in the region. secretary clinton's comments which came during a special u.n. meeting add to the administration's changing explanation about what happened the night four americans including the u.s. ambassador to

libya were killed. initially officials said the attack was part of a protest about an obscure youtube video that turned violent. secretary clinton is now pointing to a terrorist link in the attack. she says final answer will be available only once the fbi completes its investigation. spain is set to announce the 2013 budget today. expected to include deep public service cut yakz trying to off set one of the worst deficits in the euro zone. outrage over austerity measures touched off violent protests in several countries fleent days across europe. let's take an early look at the markets as we get all up in your business this morning. karen cho is live in london. good morning. >> good morning. the key question for markets is when spain will request a formal bailout which puts a lot of pressure on today's news conference. we get a close look at the 2013 budget. what revenue and spending is going to look like? you mentioned froests on the streets. this tells you how difficult it at home for the prime minister

to push through further austerity. there will be more austerity and more on the table today. the spanish prime minister tries to push the measure that these are homespun, homegrown reforms rather than ones pressured about it euro zone. in terms of what to expect, should be a new tax oversight body. we'll hear news about that today. limitations on early retirement. we're seeing that across the euro zone. retirement ages are pushed higher and higher. new taxes on green house gas emissions and also on stocks transactions to limit the volatility. also, expect to see some sort of a wage freeze continue on public servants pea right into 2013. what is key is where the pensions will be touched. this is very big across the continent, whether there are further cuts to welfare. you're not going to get true reports until the pensions are worn back. this is the last froon tear as far as they're concerned. >> karen cho, thanks so much.

still ahead on "way too early," the officials -- yeshgs the officials will get the biggest cheers in the building to night when they return to the field for the ravens-browns game. we'll tell you how the deal came together and check out the play-off races in sports. and stephen colbert prepares us for the apork-alypse. that clip and a check on weather when "way too early" comes right back. [ ow

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that is a beautiful picture. 5:42 in the morning. looking out from the jefferson memorial to the washington monument. live pictures there. let's go to bill karins. >> i haven't confirmed this with any of our experts nbc analysis, but i heard they were celebrating in the streets last night as it was raining. >> i believe it. >> two inches of rain for them. one of the bigger rain events they had the whole summer season. this is where the heart of the drought is right now n oklahoma, we have numerous areas of other areas. oklahoma city is getting a break. wear seeing showers by tulsa. we're going to continue over the day to day to get on and off periods of rain. not going to end the drought. this is a good start. also, if you're driving this morning, just outside of baltimore, in between baltimore and philadelphia and i-95, you're heading out the door any time soon in wilmington, delaware, to philadelphia. one area of heavy rain and thunderstorms is rolling through. you can see the lightning strikes over the top of elkton.

that will bring you a half hour worth of thunderstorms and heavy rain in that little isolated spot. otherwise, just light rain this morning. right now over new york city. so it's going to be a slow drive especially in the state of new jersey towards the border of pennsylvania and the philadelphia area. morning rain for you. much much new england should be dry today. a little more humid and warmer south of that front. notice d.c. today, 83 degrees. a slight chance of a shower or storm. your w you're beautiful in the great lakes. no problems in areas from dallas to houston to new orleans. i do have heavy rain heading your way as we go throughout friday night and into saturday. that area is also been very dry lately, too. so a little split in the country right now. you expect that this time of the year. the northern half of the nation cool and dry. the southern half is still holding on to summer. >> all right, bill karins. let's turn to sports nowment more on our lead story. the nfl and referees union reached an agreement that will put the nfl's regular officiating crews back on the field starting to night when the ravens host the browns.

following monday night's debacle in seattle, the league and union engaged in two days of exhaustive negotiations before agreeing to a deal that features an increase in average salary from $149,000 a year in 2011 to $205,000 a year by 2019. the deal includes a compromise that will keep the officials preferred pension plan in place until 2016. and provide all officials retirement benefits by 2017. the league came away with the option to hire certain officials on a full time basis and can retain additional referees for developmental purposes. the eventual solution to this dispute cost the nfl team about $100,000 each. the average nfl team worth more than $1.1 billion. the league makes more than $9 billion a year. nfl commissioner roger goodell released a statement after the deal was reached. he said the team's players, and fans want and deserve both consistency and quality in

officiating. we look forward to having the finest officials in sports back on the field. the nfl referees union expected to officially approve the agreement with a vote on saturday night in dallas, the 121 previously locked out referees plan to work the full schedule of games this sunday. with more on this now, joining us by phone again this morning to discuss the deal, sports editor for the nation founder of edge of sports.com, dave zyron. how did this come to be? >> all it took was national pressure, national mockery, comments from the president of the united states as well as being the lead story on every single news broadcast from nbc national to green bay local. that's all it took to puncture the cocoon where the nfl owners live and get them to hear what people have been saying for the last three weeks, there is gravitating very quickly from being a farce to being a tragedy. >> and we understand the referees are going to be back on the field tonight. i guess the question is are they

ready? we know how the replacement referees perform. are they ready to turn this around in 24 hours? >> probably not given the fact there are a host of rule changes that have taken place this year. there will be emergency clinics over the next three days to bring the referees up to speed. but the typical nfl referee at his absolute worst on his worst day is better than what we've seen on the field of play over the first three weeks of the nfl season. >> dave, what's the damage if any to the nfl? my view is this league is so popular, people are watching the games anyway. huge audiences for all these games even though the officiating is terrible, do we forget about this after sunday or is this a dark spot on the nfl's brand? >> it remains -- think about it. people have gone back to major league baseball. no one's forgotten the fact that the '94 season ended because of a strike/lockout. it was -- the world series was canceled by bud selig. that is part of his legacy. no one ever forgot that greet pete rozelle of the national

football league brought in scab players in '87 or staged a game after the assassination of john f. kennedy. these things become indelible parts of the commissioner's legacy. and roger goodell in a short time has gone from being seen as the most powerful, most dynamic commissioner in sports to somebody who's got, wow, just a tremendous amount of egg on his face. >> you get the sense he was surprised, maybe a little humbled by the outcry over this. dave zirin, the guys are back on the field tonight, browns and ravens on thursday night football. thank you for reporting on this. >> going to cleveland though, that doesn't seem like a way to make them feel welcomed. >> you said it, i didn't. a tough way to start. tigers looking to take sole position of the al central lead facing the royals. bottom of the fifth. score tied at four. miguel cabrera gets in one. deep left. what a year he's having. looks like it's going to go. wow. a little fakeout by alex gordon.

plays it perfectly. takes a home run away from cabrera. look at him hold the wall. what a play. cabrera is chasing the triple crown. he needed that home run to push him even with josh hamilton. runners on the corners. johnny peralta grounds into what should have been an inning ending double play. look at the takeout slide that prevents the royals from turning two. the go-ahead run scores. and that decided the game. it's the little things, young players. tigers get it done 5-4. the white sox lost yesterday. they're alone in first place since july 24th. orioles, a monster night offensively against the jays. seventh inning, os already up six runs. chris davis deep to the deepest part of the yard, a two-run home run. second home run of the night. one of seven home runs for the orioles in the game. yes, seven home runs. that ties a club record for baltimore. they win 12-2. all of the 12 runs came via home runs.

yankees facing off with the twins in a day game. yankees up a pair. curtis grander son extends the lead, a triple down the right-field line. the yankees win 8-2. they remain a ganl and a half up on the orioles in the al east. the magic number to win the division is six game. the yankees head to toronto for four games this weekend. coming up it he top of the hour on "morning joe," the battleground moves to virginia where the candidates spent the day crisscrossing ohio. we'll see what mitt romney can do to change the dynamic in the must win states. when we come back here, we'll huddle around the water cooler to feast our eyes on a pizza crust shaped like ice cream cones filled with cream cheese. [ male announcer ] wouldn't it be nice if there was an easier,

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we told that you president obama and mitt romney both in virginia today where early voting already has begun. iowa, another crucial swing state, starts its in person early voting to day. that's followed by ohio next week. if you want to sound smart today, tell your friends in

2008, about 25% of voters cast a ballot before election day. it was higher in 12 major swing states. that's why you see urgency from both candidates this week. let's huddle up around the water cooler to marvel at the spread of not so much western democracy but of western fast food across the globe. sure we at home have the dairy queen bacon sundae. but the strangest fast food now overseas. seven he leven you might remember this one, singapore, mashed potato dispenser. shoots out a cup of mashed potatoes and gravy for just $1. those are not mashed potatoes. now pizza hut middle east is changing the stuffed crust game. >> fill us with more fun with the cone crust pizza filled with luscious cream cheese and honey mustard coated chicken, wrapped

with fun, delight, and deliciousness. >> are we sure that's not an "s&l" skit. it is pizza with cone shaped dough filled with cream cheese and honey mixed with chicken. the chain also offer a golden crown cheeseburger pizza. a pizza size slab of dough with mini cheeseburgers baked into the crust. it create a crown encircling a bed of toppings and special sauce. this is not real. for dessert, why not try the dessert crusts. they are topped with cinnamon and sugar. these delicacies only available for now in the mideast. you can't get them here at home. but we think they're too american not to show up here pretty soon. stephen colbert is preparing

us for a food shortage that may put the bacon sundae in a little jeopardy. >> the national pig association is warning of an unavoidable global bacon shortage. >> a global bake on shortage! we're all going to die! much later than we thought, thanks to the reduced salt and nitrates in our diets! well i for one am going to be ready for the coming apork-alypse. i'm presently building an underground shelter and stocking it with all these salted hog meat i can find. bacon, panchetta, ham hocks, canned ham, john ham. he looks salty. >> still ahead on "way too early," why you're awake. your salty tweets, texts, and e-mails are next. [ male announcer ] the perfect photo... [ man ] nice!

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all right. john tower, where are these good people up? >> up early and excited to know that ed hockily will be on the field. >> the thing we missed the most in this whole lockout is the presence and guns of the guns o hochuli. there's a picture of it on the computer. he's got the best guns in the business. and the refs are back tonight. nfl. "morning joe" starts right now. romney just released an ad in which, for the first time he speaks directly to camera. in all the other ads, you don't see him talking to the camera. you just hear his voice and see him walking around. the goal is to show he does care about americans who are struggling financially. he does a pretty good job with it. >> it many americans are